THE INNOCENTS (1961)

[AntonioDelLago]

THE INNOCENTS (1961), directed by Jack Clayton and based on the novel "The Turn Of The Screw" by Henry James, is a classy, classic horror film. The flawless Deborah Kerr stars as an English governess who comes to the horrifying realization that the two precocious orphans in her care (played by the wonderful child actors Martin Stephens and Pamela Franklin) are possessed by the spirits of their former governess and her lover. The film's setting is a gloomy mansion located along the English countryside, and director Clayton makes good use of the black-and-white photography and the estate's creepy locales (gazebo, parapet and pond, just to name a few). This film boasts some of the scariest moments ever captured in a horror film (the scenes involving the spirits are genuinely terrifying!). But don't expect "Friday The 13th" chase sequences or "A Nightmare On Elm Street" special effects. The story here (scripted by Truman Capote and William Archibald) is very subtle, preying upon the viewer's mind as if we were Kerr's character, who begins to believe that the apparitions are all part of her unraveling psyche. Kerr, Stephens and Franklin are superb in their roles. Stephens also starred as the evil ring leader in the original version of "Village Of The Damned", while Franklin went on to co-star in two more excellent fright fests: "The Nanny" and "The Legend Of Hell House". The downbeat ending is appropriate for this type of outing. Ranks right up there with "The Shining", "The Changeling" and "The Haunting" as one of the best ghost stories ever told. Don't watch this one alone! Better leave the lights on! My score: A


[This message has been edited by AntonioDelLago (edited 06-28-2001).]

[Dehydrator]

I've seen it a few Years ago when it was on TV here. Sorry to say, but he didn't have that much impact on me , perhaps due to the fact that it was something like "Haunted House Night" on the Channel. They showed "The Haunting", "The Legend of Hell House" ( bears the worst translated-to german title ever : Dance of the dead Skulls ), "The Innocents" and "The Old Dark House" with Karlhoff. I found THE HAUNTING a masterpiece, the rest was only so-so. The Innocents is an OK movie to me but I didn't like the finale at all, and even though the kids were perfectly acted, Kids just don't scare me. Maybe my Fault. Definitely a recommodation when it comes to classic horror, but not much more to me.

[the night watchman]

I like this movie quite a bit. Some of the scariest "ghost scenes" ever on film (the scene on the lake is particularly unnerving.)

[This message has been edited by the night watchman (edited 04-19-2001).]

[res3283]

This film was a wondeful suprise for me. It has some truly scary scenes for a film from the early sixties.